Syracuse's upset shakes up Big East

Tuesday

Sep 25, 2007 at 12:01 AMSep 25, 2007 at 12:28 PM

Greg Robinson’s tenure as head coach at Syracuse has seen few ups and many downs.

JOE PEREZ

Greg Robinson’s tenure as head coach at Syracuse has seen few ups and many downs. With the inability to pick up all but one conference win and his team looking as if it were outnumbered on the field this season, the third-year coach’s job was on the line.

But Robinson and the Orange made great strides in reversing that trend Saturday with an upset win at Louisville. The win made Syracuse the last Bowl Championship Series conference team to pick up a win this season.

“I can tell you this, as a head football coach, it’s the best win that I’ve had,” Robinson said. “We’ve made real progress and we really accomplished something last Saturday. Not because of the odds and all those things. I just think we finally put it all together.”

Life hasn’t been coming up roses for new Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe. Louisville barely beat Middle Tennessee State before losing in consecutive weeks to Kentucky and Syracuse.

After the loss, Kragthorpe offered a simple analysis for what brought his team’s 20-game home winning streak to and end.

“We didn’t play well enough in any of the three phases to win the football game,” he said. “Give Syracuse credit, they came out and played well against us. They did a good job of throwing the deep ball, we didn’t defends the deep well. And we added four turnovers in the game.”

Three of Syracuse quarterback Andrew Robinson’s four touchdown passes were for more than 40 yards.

Pitt in trouble
Another Big East coach who now appears to have sole possession of the hot seat is Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt.

Pitt lost by 20 at home to UConn Saturday and after losing the last six games a year ago, is in dire need of a quality in-conference win. The Panthers travel to Virginia Saturday looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

While most of the attention is paid to the Mountaineer’s duo of Steve Slaton and Pat White, the West Virginia defense has shown it is equally as imposing and is ranked 15th in the nation in total defense.

South Florida’s coach knows it.
“I think they’re playing awfully well,” Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said of West Virginia’s defense. “There’s no question. They give the football back to their offense, that’s what you want a defense to do and they do a great job of that.”

Top players
Syracuse’s Robinson, South Florida defensive end George Selvie and Syracuse kick returner Max Suter were honored by the Big East Monday.

Robinson completed 17-of-26 passes for 423 yards and a school record four touchdowns in the Orange’s 38-35 upset win at Louisville. His yardage total fell two shy of the school record.

Selvie led a Bulls defensive charge that held North Carolina to 164 yards. Selvie posted six tackles — five for a loss — including three sacks. He is the national leader in sacks and tackles for loss.

Suter returned four kickoffs for 148 yards, including a 93-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter against Louisville.